ICEHL preview: HC Bozen welcomes Salzburg to the top duel!

Vienna Capitals – EC iDM heat pumps VSV
The Vienna Capitals will host the EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV on Monday for a groundbreaking duel in the fight for the pre-playoff places. Both teams are close to each other in the middle of the table, but go into the game with different forms.

Despite the recent defeat against Salzburg, the Viennese team presented a stable performance around the turn of the year and have consistently collected points in the past few weeks. With 42 points, the Capitals are currently in tenth place, although the gap between seventh and eleventh place is only four points. The importance of the upcoming matches in the direct table area is correspondingly great. The Viennese team have recently shown themselves to be particularly solid in front of their home crowd: since the change of coach in November, they have won five of the last seven home games. An important factor remains the power play, which is one of the most efficient in the league.

The VSV, on the other hand, travels to Vienna with ongoing difficulties. After the most recent defeat in Linz, Villach slipped to ninth place. Since the end of November they have only been able to record two wins; the Carinthians have been waiting for a success away from home since the end of November. In recent weeks, defensive stability has caused problems, especially in outnumbered situations.

EC-KAC – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
The EC-KAC meets HC Falkensteiner Pustertal on Monday. While the Carinthians want to further consolidate their strong position in the fight for the top six, the HCP is looking for more consistency.

The KAC returned to winning ways at the weekend after two narrow defeats with a confident away win in Innsbruck and now has 71 points. This means that the Klagenfurt team is still clearly on course towards early qualification for the top six. The record champions have been consistent recently, especially on their own ice: in the last 13 home games, the KAC has consistently scored points, supported by a stable defense and strong penalty killing in front of the home crowd.

HC Pustertal, on the other hand, started the new year with setbacks. Two defeats on their own ice saw the South Tyroleans fall back to sixth place in the table. In the last ten league games, the HCP has only been victorious three times, and there has also been a negative trend recently away from home. After a strong start to the season abroad, the Wolves have only scored a few points on opposing ice since the end of October. In terms of personnel, the South Tyroleans will still have to do without several regulars, while the hosts could have additional options for the line-up through possible returnees.

Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – Moser Medical Graz99ers
In the long-distance duel for the lead in the table, the Moser Medical Graz99ers are heading into the match day with a tailwind. Five wins in a row, including a convincing away win in Ljubljana, underline the Styrians’ strong current form. With one less game played, they are only just behind the EC-KAC, while Salzburg is already a little ahead of the top duo with the same number of games.

However, a challenge awaits in Székesfehérvár that has been difficult for Graz to overcome in recent years. The 99ers have not managed to win a point at Fehérvár since October 2022. The Hungarians have had a mixed performance recently: strong home performances were followed by clear away defeats before Fehérvár opened the new year with a win in the Hungarian derby.

Olimpija Ljubljana – FTC Telekom Budapest
Olimpija Ljubljana hosts FTC-Telekom Budapest on Monday. The Slovenians didn’t get off to a good start into the new year and suffered two defeats. From the last seven games they have only managed to record a total of two wins.

However, the Hungarians’ most recent record is even more sobering: FTC-Telekom lost the last five games and seven of the last eight encounters. The league newcomer slipped out of the top ten in the table, with ninth place still only one point away.

The previous two duels of the season each went to Olimpija, but most recently the Slovenians had to go to extra time.

Pioneers Vorarlberg – HC TIWAG Innsbruck – The Sharks
In their first home game of the 2026 calendar year, the Pioneers Vorarlberg will host HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie for the third West derby of the season. The previous two duels have both gone to the Tyroleans: At the start of the season, Innsbruck narrowly prevailed in Feldkirch, and the Haie won the second meeting in extra time. The Pioneers are still waiting for their first derby success of the season.

This time, however, the Vorarlbergers go into the game with a tailwind. The narrow away win in Bruneck against HC Falkensteiner Pustertal gave the Pioneers self-confidence and put them six points ahead of Innsbruck in the table. The Tyroleans have recently suffered five defeats in a row and are looking for a turnaround.

Additional options in the line-up for the hosts could include the return of Luca Erne, who has been training with the team again since the weekend and is about to make his possible first appearance. Despite the different form curves, the West Derby promises to be a close encounter again – not least because of the evenly balanced duels of the season so far.

HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg
When HCB Südtirol Alperia welcomes EC Red Bull Salzburg on Monday, two of the strongest teams in the win2day ICE Hockey League will meet in a direct duel for third place. Salzburg’s start to the year on foreign ice takes the series champions to Bolzano, where a direct competitor awaits in the form of HCB Südtirol.

The Red Bulls arrive with a series of ten wins in a row and are currently in third place with 64 points. Bolzano is only one point behind, but has played two fewer games and has won seven of the last eight games. The previous duel of the season also underlines the balance of this encounter: both teams celebrated an away win each.

While Salzburg recently impressed above all with team unity, wide lines and the most stable defense in the league, the South Tyroleans have been in impressive form since the coaching change. Under head coach Doug Shedden, Bolzano has only lost one of seven games since mid-December.

Both teams also go into the game with a tailwind: HCB Südtirol won the South Tyrol derby in Bruneck on Sunday, Salzburg clearly prevailed against Vienna. A personal milestone also provides additional explosiveness: Salzburg’s captain Thomas Raffl completes his 1,000th in Bozen. Play in the win2day ICE Hockey League – as only the second player ever in the history of the league. >> All details can be found here. The official tribute to this milestone will take place on January 9th. made at the Red Bulls’ home game.

January 5, 2026 – win2day ICE Hockey League
7:15 p.m. Vienna Capitals – EC iDM Heat Pumps VSV
Referees: Nagy, Piragic, Nothegger, Riecken

7:15 p.m. EC-KAC – HC Falkensteiner Pustertal
Referees: Smetana, Sternat, Bedynek, Puff

7:15 p.m. Hydro Fehérvár AV19 – Moser Medical Graz99ers
Referees: Fichtner, Hronsky, Gatol, Konc

7:15 p.m. Olimpija Ljubljana – FTC Telekom Budapest
Referees: Groznik, Ofner, Muzsik, Wimmler

7:30 p.m. Pioneers Vorarlberg – HC TIWAG Innsbruck – Die Haie
Referees: Kainberger, Nikolic M., Martin, Sparer

7:45 p.m. HCB Südtirol Alperia – EC Red Bull Salzburg
Referees: Nikolic K., Seewald, Rigoni, Zacherl

ALL GAMES LIVE ON SPORTEUROPE.TV

ice.hockey , Image: EC Red Bull Salzburg